Library of Congress Makes 25 Million Records Available for Free

In its largest digital release to date, the Library of Congress is making 25 million records available for free online. As the United States' oldest cultural institution, the organization holds an incredible amount of information—books, music, manuscripts, maps, and other visuals.

The records released, which span from 1968 to 2014, were previously only available online to paid subscribers.

“The Library of Congress is our nation’s monument to knowledge and we need to make sure the doors are open wide for everyone, not just physically but digitally too,” said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden.“Unlocking the rich data in the Library’s online catalog is a great step forward. I’m excited to see how people will put this information to use.”

By opening up the information to the public, scholars, statisticians, data analysts, and curious intellectuals will have a chance to increase their knowledge. The records will be available via the Library of Congress's online catalog.